Friday, December 16, 2011

Well, I’ve had some nice trips. Richard and I have done a couple of DJ gigs abroad, which has been quite fun. We went to Kiev and Moscow, which was a giggle. And we went to Abu Dhabi for the Formula 1, because I did a couple of shows around that.

How was that?

It was cool, actually. I think if Richard hadn’t come with me it would’ve all been a bit lost on me. Not that he’s particularly into Formula 1, but because we were there together and being shown around garages and stuff it made it more fun. And seeing everything up close does make it more exciting.

Did you meet any drivers?

We did, actually. We met Lewis Hamilton really briefly before the race, and he was such a sweetheart - really friendly and smiley. It was good, because it meant I was really rooting for him and then he won.

How was the show?

Well, it was at this club thing called the Amber Lounge which travels around with Formula 1 doing all the after-show parties. I sung a couple of songs there on two of the nights. It was really fun. And it was nice to get some sunshine out there too. It’s a pretty amazing place, where pretty much everything seems to be new. We went to this hotel which cost $3.5 billion and it’s actually done pretty nicely, but they’ve got fresh flowers everywhere that are flown in from 10 different countries and replaced every 6-7 hours!

Crikey. That seems a bit wasteful.

Yeah, we were like, "Where do the old ones go?!" And they said they just throw them away. We were all really dismayed about that. I’m not sure that’s the reaction they were expecting.

What else have you been doing?

Yesterday I was at St Thomas’s hospital, because I do quite a lot of work with Tommy’s, the charity. I went along to meet the scientists and consultants who work for them, to see the work they’re doing for complications in pregnancy. It was really fascinating. It makes you feel so lucky to have been born in a country where you have access to treatment. I met a girl there who’s just come back from Somalia where they’re trying to find a way to get solar-powered blood pressure monitors, because people aren’t trained to use the old-fashioned ones and batteries get stolen. You just don’t think about things like that if you live somewhere like the UK.

That sounds like a worthwhile visit.

It really was. It was nice of them to give me their time, because I had loads of questions!

Sticking with charity initiatives, you read stories to a bunch of children at Ikea recently.

I did indeed. It was really sweet, actually. That was with Unicef and Save The Children. Ikea have been working with them for a while, I think. They’re trying to raise something like £12m, by giving a percentage of the money from all the books and toys they sell. So I just popped along and read a couple of stories for the kids.

Quite a few kids!

I know! When I got there, I asked how many children there would be, thinking they’d say 8 to 12, or something. And the lady was like, "Oh, maybe 50"! But they were actually very sweet. I thought I’d get kids wandering off and heckling, but they were very good. And they did that thing that kids do where they start off really spaced apart, and then gradually creep really close to you! I really enjoyed it.

Of course, you also currently have an unborn child inside you!

Haha! Yes I do.

How’s that all going?

Yeah, I’m in the good bit now - the middle section where you feel pretty happy and you’re enjoying it. The first 12 or 14 weeks were quite hard work. That was when I was doing Australia and Jakarta and Istanbul and Beirut. I just didn’t really stop. I think from the time I found I was pregnant until the point I could tell people I went to over 20 different cities. And also in the beginning bit I was feeling quite icky. It makes you feel like you’re hungover.

Oh dear.

Exactly. And, as when you’re hungover, you’re craving things like toast and baked potatoes and all the carbohydrates and comfort food. But you can’t really get toast and Marmite in Jakarta! But now I’m in the middle bit, I feel like myself again.

And it’s all going well?

Yep, at the moment. All good. I think I’m in safe hands.

So your unborn child is certainly a very well travelled baby.

It certainly is! And I’m travelling right up to New Year’s Eve, which is my last booked gig. I’m going to Thailand, which is amazing. I’m so excited about that.

You’ve had such a year of travelling to amazing places.

I know. I’ve been really lucky. Every year you start off the year wondering what it will bring, but it’s been as good now as ever.

What are you doing in Thailand?

A fully live show with my band in Phuket. I’ve got three nights there, which should be quite cool. I’ve only been to Bangkok, but I’ve looked online and Phuket looks incredibly beautiful.

You were also in Barcelona recently.

Yes, with a DJ called Brian Cross that I’ve been working with a bit. He’s lovely. I think that was my fourth show with him.

So you sing during his set?

Exactly. He does a show called Popstars - in fact he’s bringing out an album next year - and he’s recorded a song with me. So he does this big show and then halfway through I pop out and do a few songs. He’s a really nice guy.

The other big news is that you’re singing on a new song by Bob Sinclar - with the somewhat sweary title of 'Fuck With You'.

Haha! Yes. The perfect song for someone who’s about to have their third baby, I think.

How did that come about?

Well, I was obviously already aware of Bob Sinclar, and when I got sent the email about that track my first thought was that I wasn’t going to sing a song called that! But when I heard it I actually thought it was really playful and fun. So I thought, why not? And I take the view that the girl isn’t doing it in a sexy way. It’s more like, I want to mess with you, sort of thing. She’s kind of making fun of the guy. And I think the track is very upbeat and skippy. rather than a Love To Love You Baby sensual sort of song. The rap is pretty filthy, though!

And it’ll be on Bob Sinclar’s album?

Exactly. I’ve got no idea what’ll happen with it. I thought it wasn’t coming out until next summer, but then it popped up online recently. I think it’s in an Italian film, or something.

Are you making a video? That could be interesting.

Ha! There’s talk of doing it in the spring, after I’ve had my baby.

So what we need you to do Sophie is just leave your clothes there...

Haha! I won’t do anything that I don’t feel comfortable with. But I think Bob has some ideas.

But the plan is to promote it?

Yeah, I think so, although the plans are pretty vague. At the moment I’ve got January and February down for songwriting - I just want to knuckle down and try and get the album as shipshape as I can so that I can come back in the summer time and do some summer shows and bring out some new material. That’s about the shape of it.

So you’re still working on new stuff?

Yeah, although it’s been quite hard because I’ve been away so much. But I’ve got lots of lovely people lined up to work with in the new year, so I’m just going to knuckle down. Songwriting is the perfect thing to do in new year in any case, let alone if you can’t really be travelling. I think it’s going to be pretty ideal.

You’ve also done a cameo in Ricky Gervais’s new show.

Oh yes. I filmed that a while ago. It’s in the last episode of the series, I think.

Was that fun to do?

It was actually. It was very easy. I’m just playing myself, so it wasn’t too big a stretch. But it was a nice part and it’s just fun to be involved in something a bit different like that. The main guy - Warwick Davies - was really nice, so he put me at ease.

Do you have acting ambitions?

Well I think there’s always been a big crossover between performing on stage and in videos and acting. I think a lot of singers do a bit of both. So it’s not something I’m actively chasing, but I’m open-minded. If you’d asked me when I was 14 or 15, then acting was what I wanted to do. But singing is definitely my day job.

And with The Stone Roses getting back together, presumably discussions have begun for the big theaudience reunion?

Yeah, that’s very similar! Golly. No. I don’t think so.

Some day you’ll bow to the inevitable.

Hahaha! I’ll wait for the petition.

And are you all set for Christmas?

Pretty much. I think I’ve done 80% of my shopping. I’ve had to be really organised because I’m not really here in December that much. And I’ve ordered my turkey, because we’ve got everyone coming here again.

How many people are you cooking for?

I think there’ll be about 15 of us, with my mum and family, plus Richard’s folks. Actually my mum has ordered me some pre-peeled potatoes to make it a bit easier for me. I peeled about 60 last year and it really did my head in, so that was very sweet of her. But I like having it at home. I’m really looking forward to it.

Monday, November 14, 2011

1. What you're going to hear might make you extremely happy, and at the same time really sad. You're going to be very embarrassed when the song is done, but you'll press-play again, cos lets face it, this is the catchiest thing Sophie has done since Catch You.

2. I'm going to quote dsdlovespop's post from PopJustice, "This song is a groundbreaking genre-defining MASTERPIECE." Yes. It's over the top amazing, and if it was a random somebody on this song, I'd play the shit out of it. Oh that chorus and bridge! If she used a tune like this on Make A Scene, it wouldn't have flopped like it did. But I wouldn't change a thing about her album. It's perfect the way it is.

3. Am I embarrassed because Sophie used the F word? Not at all. She's done it before in theaudience. It's actually funny because she seems sort of embarrassed to say the word, so she's using her falsetto for it.

4. She's really trying to be a big thing on the commercial scene, isn't she? Fair enough, everyone wants to make it big. The sad thing is, Sophie Ellis-Bextor just went from that classy-but-slightly-eccentric-posh-diva on Starlight to this trashy man-stealing-Ho. What really confuses me is that she was just singing about girls like this on her own album, and she's now playing that character. Explain yourself Bextor, NOW.

5. By now, you'd have reached the middle-8. Brace yourself, you might have a stroke. Surely she couldn't have been in her right senses when this decision was taken, don't you agree? Maybe, like ansintheboy said on PopJustice "she's taking the piss out of 'rent-a-rapper'", or maybe she's just FUCKING wit her fans...we know she loves to do that anyway.

6. To sum up:

Sophie Ellis-Bextor just achieved the newest low in the world.

Bob Sinclar took the purest thing in pop and turned it into the next Britney Spears. Shame on you man.

I blame Sophie's pregnancy hormones for this (sorry love, I'm extremely happy for you and the baby, but clearly you weren't in the right mind when you sang this song.)

The cover is rather lovely though.

Here's the song: Bob Sinclar feat. Pregnancy Hormones - Fuck With You. Apparently the song is going to be the soundtrack to some movie.

Monday, November 7, 2011

So, SMEB's busy working on her fifth record. But here are the recent updates:

1. Not so long ago, Sophie mentioned that she had worked with Bob Sinclar. Well, the collaboration is included on his album "Disco Crash" which will be out in January. We still don't know what the song-title is and who the co-writers are. Let's hope it's a melancholic disco song...

2. I have already mentioned a new song title that surfaced recently. For those of you who don't remember, its "Love Is A Camera", co-written with Ed Harcourt. It seems like she has written a new song called "My Hearts Desire" with Fred Ball.

3. Also, Fred Ball mentioned Sophie on his Logbook saying. "Writing more tunes with lovely Sophie. Taking inspiration from She-Ra, Thundercats and Marshall Bravestarr. 'Speed of the puma, eyes of the hawk, ears of the wolf....'"

Thursday, October 20, 2011

I'm very happy for Sophie and Richard. There's going to be another little Ellis-Bextor-Jones in the photographs next Christmas. I'm hoping it's a girl this time. Afterall, someone's gotta carry on those amazing cheekbones and those neverending legs to the next generation.

Also, Sophie had already started working on the fifth album this year, and she will continue working on the fifth album. Sophie mentioned recently that she wants to write and record an album faster this time. So lets hope she doesn't take too long...

I'm keeping my fingers crossed that we get a really personal album - like Shoot From The Hip.

Her tweets:"I have something to tell you..."

"I am having another baby. Due in Spring. A little brother or sister for Sonny and Kit. Family e-b-jones are happy and excited. Xx"

"Thanks guys. It's a lovely thing. By the way, work on album 5 continues as usual. In fact, I now have a deadline! In the studio as we speak."

Monday, October 3, 2011

Okay, I've been very busy with work. I've been working more than 18 hours on some days. So I apologise for the lack of updates. Moving on to the important stuff.

First of all, have you all bought Rebellion (Lies)? If you haven't, buy it now. It is 4:42 minutes of pure brilliance. Its definitely up there with her best covers to date. Sophie sounds absolutely gorgeous on the track, and the "Lies, lies" bit is fabulous. Right now, the track is sitting as track #15 on Make a scene for me. I will move it into my list of Sophie b-sides and side releases after a few months. It's a very good song. So buy it. Don't download free mp3s, buy the song off iTunes. It's for a good cause. Here's a link to the album on UK iTunes.http://itunes.apple.com/gb/album/songs-to-save-life-in-aid/id454729655Please buy the song.

Second. Sophie was in Jakarta, Indonesia recently. She hadn't been there since 9 years, but the crowd gathered at the Java Soul Nation festival seemed to know and like her new songs. The best part of the show was when the entire crowd sang along to Murder On The Dancefloor...not just the chorus, but the ENTIRE song. Sophie must have been over the world to hear the crowd's response to that song. She even mentioned this in her recent official catch-up, but more on that later.

Third. Sophie is in Australia promoting her new album. She had two club-shows - one in Sydney and one in Melbourne. She also had some TV appearances where she performed her new single Starlight and Murder On The Dancefloor.

IT must be murder juggling motherhood with a career filling dance floors but Sophie Ellis-Bextor makes it seem effortless. Here she tells JACQUI SWIFT about her new record that features Calvin Harris, Roisin Murphy and Metronomy.

Your new album Make a Scene is your career high. Do you agree?When I finished it, I was so pleased. I'm always wary of reviews as you only ever remember the nasty ones but, without blowing my own trumpet, I can say it's my best album yet because of the people I worked with Calvin Harris, Roisin Murphy, Metronomy, Richard X, Cathy Dennis, Greg Kurstin, I was very spoiled.

Tell us about the big-name producers and co-writers on the record.I had a wish list and they're all on there. They're all perennial talents who have either been around for ages, or are going from strength to strength. It was great. There will always be a core of six to eight tracks which define what the record is about and then I pick and choose from the rest, which add to the colour of the album.

So what's the process when you have so many different people to work with?Hopefully, whatever I bring to the table when I'm writing helps give it cohesion. I'm someone who has always been quite clear about what I like. In the studio, I'm not a control freak but I know what I want. It's an arms-in-the-air dance album.

Does it take you back to your Groovejet days?Yes, a little bit. I think it's all about the rise of the DJ again. When Groovejet came out, people knew a few of the names but then they went back to being a bit more niche and underground. Now you have people like David Guetta and Martin Solveig who are on the radio as well as in the clubs and I think that's a really good thing.

Dial My Number is about a stalker. What's the story behind it?Someone had my number and they started text-stalking me. I've never replied to them. It was tempting to write back, but I resisted. It's funny how intimate it feels to get a text. I got one on the way to the studio, so we ended up writing that song.

So what's next for you?I want to make something different, take myself out of my comfort zone, but then I want to do four-to-the-floor as well and I want to work with Deadmau5.

Sophie Ellis-Bextor plays Home the Venue, Darling Harbour, on October 2. Make a Scene (Shock) is out now.

A MOTHER of two and celebrating album No. 4, Sophie Ellis-Bextor whirled into town last week to reintroduce herself to her dance constituency.It has been a decade since Ellis-Bextor fired up the charts with the inescapable hit Groovejet (If This Ain't Love), backing that up with Murder On The Dancefloor and last year's single Bittersweet.Her new record Make A Scene features a who's who of hitmakers including Calvin Harris, Freemasons, Richard X, Armin Van Buuren and Metronomy."I have always been rubbish at predicting what will make the charts so I play to my strengths and do what I like," she said before her performance at Home last night."If you're making music to dance to, if the song doesn't finish with me standing up out of my seat and dancing around the studio, it's not going to work."Ellis-Bextor hinted her next album, already underway, will be a departure from clubland to something more "reflective".Rumour has it she is being courted to return to Sydney next March for Mardi Gras.

Sixth. Sophie Ellis-Bextor: Still killing it on and off the dancefloor

You're speaking from the future. Haha! I am, it's evening here in Sydney, so it must be morning there?

That is correct. What's going to happen today?It will be quite cold. And it will rain a little bit.

Not in London, it won't. It's gorgeous here.Yeah, I heard. But it was actually quite good weather for wandering around Sydney, which is what I've been doing today. It's like spring weather. Nice to walk around in. I've had a lovely day pottering about on my own.

Are you literally out there on your own?My sound guy, Duncan has here, but I haven't actually seen that much of him. He's been doing his own thing. We got here yesterday morning from Jakarta. And Kat is arriving from the UK any minute now. Then the promo really starts in earnest tomorrow.

Kat, of course, is becoming familiar to the readers of your website as the person who does the photoblogs. I know! I'm so glad she does that, because I'm so rubbish at taking pictures. I've never really been a good documenter. But she's really good at it.

For those readers who don't know Kat, what does she do?She works with Derek, who's my manager. She's brilliant. She's his assistant, but she's often the one that comes with me on my trips. She's a very good travel companion. Even though she's only 24, some people say we're like two old women who go off and holiday together. We always make sure we do things during the downtime, like go for a walk or a swim or something.

So, how was Jakarta?It was actually really impressive. I hadn't been there for ten years. In fact, the last time I went to Jakarta was the same trip I last went to Sydney, around the time Read My Lips came out, when we were away for a month, going all round Australia, New Zealand and South East Asia. So it tied in quite nicely to have these two club shows in Australia and a big festival show in Jakarta before that.

How did it go?Well, I wasn't really sure what to expect, but I had like 5,000 people in this arena, and they were a really brilliant crowd. It was a very satisfying gig. They really seemed to know and like a lot of my stuff.

That's nice.It really is. I'm always a bit trepidatious about who'll remember and who'll come, but it's amazing how many do. Jakarta was great and both of the Australian shows have sold out. And on my day out today, I kept bumping into people that recognised me, which was really nice. Sydney is such a friendly city. I bought a dress and the guy was like, "I hope you're looking forward to Sunday, it's going to be really good". It was really sweet. Do people tend to say the same kind of things when they spot you in the street?The number one thing is "Do you know you really look like that singer?" I get that more than anything else. I think it's because when I'm on stage I've got the full glam thing done, and I don't do that when I'm walking around. I'm quite low-key. So I think people think I can't be the same person.

Do you ever deny it's you?Occasionally. But only very rarely. Only if I'm feeling a bit rubbish. But usually it's really nice. Like a guy I met on the street last night was so sweet and excited that I put him on the guest list for Sunday.

So you've only been to Sydney once before?That's right. And last time I came I spent more time in Melbourne. So today I went out for about four or five hours just wandering around. And my step-cousin Kate is working and living here at the moment, so I met up with her yesterday afternoon. It's a lovely place to hang out. And it's a really easy city to walk around in, which is my favourite kind of city.

Did you go and see all the big sights?I guess I did, really. I went to the Sydney Opera House. And I went on the train. They have double decker trains, so I obviously went upstairs! And we walked around this area called the Rocks, which is really pretty. And today I went around Surrey Hills and down Crown Street because there's loads of vintage shops around there. Then I walked more into the commercial area for a couple of basic things I needed - so I went to where Westfield is. Although our Westfield in Shepherd's Bush is certainly a lot nicer!

Are the two gigs just club shows then?Yeah, exactly. The band aren't here, but I'll be doing a good half hour of greatest hits. They're part of two big party nights - I'm on pretty late at both - and it's a holiday weekend here, so there should be a good atmosphere. I'm just going to try and keep people dancing.

Are they a bit like Australian versions of G-A-Y?I think so, yes. Particularly the one in Sydney, because it's apparently the biggest club in Sydney. They should be fun.

Has the new album been released in Australia?Yes, it's out this week, and Starlight is at radio now.

It is quite amazing to go to the other side of the world after a decade and find people still listen to your music.Absolutely. That sort of thing never fails to impress me. Like when I was in Jakarta, even checking into my flight there the woman behind the desk was telling me I was a trending topic on Twitter there. It's crazy. I never get jaded about that sort of thing. I think it's incredible. Actually, I couldn't sleep last night because of jet lag and I was working out how many cities I travelled to in the last two months, and I've performed in 18. Everywhere from Beirut to Istanbul to Moscow to Barcelona. It's amazing.

And it does sort of show how well Polydor did in the early days to get your music out there.Oh completely. Groovejet was successful, but it was Murder on the Dancefloor that I think made people put a face to the voice, so to speak. That song really changed things, I think. And I'm still realising that now. At the time it was all part of a snowball.Are you stopping off anywhere on the way back from Australia?No, only for the plane to refuel. I leave on Monday then land back on Tuesday. Then I've got a couple of shows in Moscow at the end of next week. And then hopefully after that I'm not travelling anywhere for a while! And The Feeling are playing Shepherd's Bush Empire, so I'm going to do my duet with them there. I'm looking forward to that.

Talking of flying to Russia, some of your male fans were no doubt impressed by the Aeroflot outfit you modelled on Twitter recently!Hahaha! I think it's so cool they gave me a uniform.

How did that happen?I went on one of their flights and they had these really cool uniforms. Really 60s in this red/orange colour with big white lapels. I think they're very stylish. So I said on Twitter that I loved them and they spotted it and asked if I'd like one. Then they met me in the hotel foyer. And not only did they give me the dress - but the heels, the hat, the gloves and a scarf! So I can use it for a multitude of things. I could perform in it at something like G-A-Y, or wear it for fancy dress. Or just wear it for a night out. And if I wear it when I'm going through an airport, I might be able to go in the fast-track lane! It's funny the things you get excited about, but I'm really chuffed about it.

And where are you at with work on your next album?I've been doing a bit of work in the studio at home with Richard, but the plan is really to try and gig as much as I can between now and Christmas, and then maybe January, February, March and April are blocked out with songwriting. I don't want to dawdle on this one. I want to knuckle down and get the album done in the spring. Because in the past I've been so bad at letting an album go, but I really like the idea of just really getting on with it. I think that might make me make a slightly different style of record, which I feel like I need to do. I'm really excited about getting into it.

What do you have planned for this evening?I think Kat and I are going out for supper. But I've got a horribly early start tomorrow. I've got people coming to my room at 5am to start getting me ready for breakfast TV. But if last night's sleep is anything to go by I'll probably be awake then anyway! It was so crappy. I went to bed at like half 11 then woke up 3 and just couldn't get back to sleep.

Oh dear.I know. I have had a really lovely trip, but I am looking forward to coming home. This has been the longest I've been away from the kids, so that's not been the easiest. That's why I've not been to Australia for a while. Skype has been a life saver. We've been putting it on in the morning before school. But I can't wait to get home and see them for real.

Saturday, September 17, 2011

For the average Australian music fan, Sophie Ellis-Bextor’s career might as well have begun and ended a decade ago with her multi-hit-spawning debut album Read My Lips.

But, as with many of the best pop stars (see also: Annie, Robyn, Nicola Roberts), Bextor’s music has remained a slightly underground, cult proposition ever since, relished by forward-thinking pop lovers.

She’s currently on album four, the outstanding Make A Scene, and will mark it with her first Australian shows since her brief run as a chart-troubling rival to Britney, Christina et al all those years ago.

“I feel like I have little pockets of fans all over the world, which is brilliant, but I’m quite embarrassed it’s taken me so long to get to places like Australia again,” Ellis-Bextor told the Star Observer during a snatched phone conversation at Gatwick Airport earlier this month.

“Hopefully I’ll deliver a good show by means of an apology.”

She’ll be in the country for a week, leaving her two young children and husband (Richard Jones, bassist for fellow cultish Brit popsters The Feeling) in the UK.

While her shows will be relatively brief — 40-minute sets for queer crowds at Sydney’s Homesexual and Melbourne’s GH — she said fans could expect to hear much-loved tracks like Heartbreak (Make Me A Dancer) and, of course, Murder on the Dancefloor.

“I’m doing club shows because I haven’t got my band with me, but don’t worry, it’ll be a real party set, with all the greatest hits,” she said.

As well as the more pop-driven highlights of her first three albums, Ellis-Bextor will showcase the eclectic dancefloor sounds of Make A Scene — an album littered with big-name DJ collaborations.

The album finally saw the light of day in April after an agonising four-year wait for fans who waited patiently as release dates came and went. But Ellis-Bextor, glamorously aloof as ever, wasn’t about to apologise for the delays.

“It wasn’t frustrating for me. It’d been four years since the last record, and in that time I’d toured that album, then had a baby, then taken my time to work on Make A Scene.”

“I’m often the reason things take a long time, because I really enjoy the process of writing and recording. You’ve got to spend a long time with those songs once they’re out there, so I don’t rush them. I’m not really in any hurry.”

It’s this attitude that perhaps best explains why she’s very much a cult pop star — and happy to stay that way.

“Sometimes I think it’s a case of ‘careful what you wish for’, because the way things are at the moment, I work a lot, I travel the world, but I also manage to have a family life and raise my kids. I don’t want to wish for anything that would upset the balance of what makes me happy. So I’ll settle for cult — that sounds good to me.”

Aside from the expected commercial dance collaborations with Calvin Harris and handbag house mavens the Freemasons, Make A Scene (which will be released locally via Shock Records to coincide with her visit) sees Ellis-Bextor team up with indie dance hipsters Metronomy and folk gloomster Ed Harcourt.

It’s this refusal to be pigeonholed that’s defined her career thus far — after all, who would’ve predicted the frontwoman for arch Britpop also-rans theaudience would’ve emerged from their 1999 split to voice the biggest house song of 2000, Spiller’s Groovejet (If This Ain’t Love)?

“I’m still intrigued by the whole dance scene — Deadmau5, Chase & Status — or I could do something a bit more alternative. I haven’t got a clear idea of who I want to work with next, but I love working with unexpected people,” she mused.

“Dance music is such a big part of what I do, and I love it. If I could, I’d do two projects simultaneously — something dance, then something different. I am particularly interested in the ‘something different’, because I feel like I need to challenge myself a little bit.”

Testing her musical boundaries has always been important for Ellis-Bextor, who once memorably said “there’s nothing more unsexy than a jaded pop star”. More than a decade into the occupation, does she still have the passion to continue?

“Probably now more than ever, really. The longer it keeps going, the more I realise I’m one of the lucky ones, doing what I do. I’ve never had to get a proper job — brilliant!”

Tuesday, August 30, 2011

Sophie with Richard and Dan from The Feeling on a cookery-cum-chat show. Pleasures include an acoustic performance of Leave Me Out Of It, and footage of the infant Sophie modelling a snood on Blue Peter.

Wednesday, August 3, 2011

Monday, August 1, 2011

First of all, I'm sorry for the lack of updates. I've been working 13 hours a day because we have audit season going on right now, and I'm really busy. Anyway, lots of things are happening in Sophie world. Here's the news, for those who don't know it already.

1. OFF AND ON WILL BE THE NEXT SINGLE

As bizarre as it sounds, Off And On will be the sixth overall single from this campaign. I'm really pleased that the song is finally being released as a single. Sophie mentioned in the past that she did want to release this song...methinks she had to release those other collaboration-singles just so she could buy some time to setup her own label and get things back on track. It is tragic that Starlight didn't get a good charting, but the song was given A LOT of airplay. I had posted the stats a few weeks ago.

Will we get a video, along with a physical release? We're not sure of any details right now. The Calvin Harris tag could help the song chart well, but we're not sure if this is going to be a solo release or a collaborative one. I wouldn't mind it either way really, as long as we get a b-side, preferably "Calling It Love" (that other song she did with Calvin) or one of the Kish Mauve tracks.

Sophie performed the new single on Tonight's The Night. Her performance was flawless. I never thought she could reach those high notes, but she sang so well. Well done Miss E-B. You always give me so many reasons to love you even more.

You can download the performance right here -(thanks to Paul for the recording, and Renzo for the link)

Make a scene was recently certified Gold in Russia, after peaking at #12 in the albums charts. This is Sophie's second album to go Gold in Russia. Its good to see Sophie getting a lot of attention from Russia. I sincerely hope her Russian fans support her when she changes her direction - from dance-pop to stripped live sounding songs.

Here's hoping that the album is certified Gold eventually in the UK as well.

4. THE FEELING HAVE CANCELLED THE NEW SINGLE IN FAVOUR OF ANOTHER SONG

I'm not sure why they decided to release another song instead of Leave Me Out Of It, especially after all those performances. Leave Me Out Of It is absolutely gorgeous, and they should release the song as a single sometime.

5. SOPHIE WAS ON RADIO KENT RECENTLY.

Here's the interview.Thanks to Paul for the recording and Renzo for the upload.

Wednesday, July 27, 2011

Did you meet the Erasure chaps on that tour?Yeah, they were very nice. They've got such diehard fans. There was one gig where it was raining and hailing - it was just horrendous - but the crowd just stayed there and watched. I felt a bit bad actually, cos it was totally dry for my bit and then the heavens just opened shortly after I finished my last song.

Were they responsive to your sets?Yeah, they really were. Without wanting to sound smug, I think me and the band feel quite confident in the set now. It does a lot of the work for you, really. And I think if you're performing at a show like that, you just have to be sympathetic to the fact that people haven't come to see you. As long as you're aware of that and you keep your role very clear in your mind, I think you can't help but enjoy it. You have to remember you're a support act who's there to get everybody worked up before the main act comes on.

And you've supported some big 'uns. Take That and George Michael spring to mind.Exactly. I'm like a professional support act! Hahaha! But I actually think it's been the making of me live, in many ways. It just forces you to go out there in front of people who maybe don't want to be listening to you at that precise moment and try to win them over. I think it's made me improve a lot.

What have you got coming up in the next couple of months?There's talk of doing Off And On as the next single from my album. And then I've got some club shows in August and I'm still looking at some dates in September and October in South America and Australia. That's still coming together.

What do you do with the kids if you have to go somewhere as far as Australia?It's not something I've really had to deal with yet, but I don't think it would be very fair to take them. Big time difference, long flights and all that. So I'd probably leave them here and only be away for a maximum of maybe 10 days. Actually, at the end of the month I'm going to Moscow and I'm going to take my eldest boy with me.

Oh, cool.Yeah, I always thought in my mind that when he was 7 he could come somewhere with me. I thought then he would actually take it in properly and remember it when he was older. The Russians are quite sticklers on paperwork, so I had to get copies of his birth certificate to prove I'm his mother, because we've got different surnames - cos he's Jones. And then I had to get a letter from Richard saying, "Yes, I know that my wife is taking our son out of the country and I give permission".

What are you actually out there for?It's just a 20 minute outdoor show for radio, rather than a whole gig. So we'll leave on the Saturday morning, get there for Saturday afternoon and do the show. Then the next day we're not getting a flight until about 9 o'clock at night, so we'll be able to go and have a wander around Red Square and that kind of thing. It should be really fun.

Is he excited?I think so, yeah. Although he really just wants to know whether he can play on my iPhone on the way!

Have you been going out much?I'm actually going out on Wednesday to see Adam Buxton do his thing at the BFI about music videos. It's really funny, so I'm looking forward to that. But I haven't really had much time off. I still haven't seen Bridesmaids, which I'd really like to see.

Is there any more press coming up?Well, I did a photoshoot for the Sunday Times Style Magazine which was an at-home thing. And now a German magazine called Brigitte - which is apparently the biggest women's monthly in Germany - is coming here next week to take some pictures. So I need to get the house tidied up and organised for that!

It looked very tidy in the Sunday Times one.Yeah, but they were really sweet, with moving stuff about and angling things the right way. I bought about three copies because it said something on the front cover like "Inside the coolest house in Britain".

Wow. You should put a sign on the front door.Exactly! "Are you aware you're entering the coolest house in Britain?!" Hahaha!

It's a world away from her life on tour as a pop star, but one close to her heart as a mum.

Next month she will play to thousands of clubbers at party-lovers' paradise Amnesia in Ibiza, before going home to her two little ones.

But like tiny tot Charlie Hewson, both of her children have needed medical attention in the past.

The 17-month old from Lee, south London, is a patient at Great Ormond Street Hospital (GOSH) and has spent the last nine months fighting Ewing's sarcoma, a deadly tumour in his leg.

Mum to seven-year-old Sonny and Kit, two, Sophie says: "My little boys spent time in hospital when they were younger and I know what a horrible time it can be.

"Sonny was born nine weeks early and Kit two months early."

In fact, little Kit was born weighing just 2lb 10z and was immediately placed in an incubator.

"When you have a sick child you are incredibly grateful that places like GOSH exist, " Sophie continues.

"As a parent your instinct is to provide the best for your children and when they get ill it goes outside your realm of care and you need that extra support.

"You feel helpless and I know it can be a stressful time.

"Luckily, thanks to the hard work of the staff, they didn't feel scared and there were lots of toys so I know what great work hospitals like GOSH do."

Sophie hears Charlie's story from mum Kate, who says: "It's devastating to find out your child is sick.

"Charlie's tumour means unfortunately he has lost his leg and it has been a long journey.

"Thankfully the road to recovery has been helped by the amazing staff at GOSH, who have achieved miracles, meaning we can soon take our little boy home."

She might be a celebrity in demand but 32-year-old Sophie, who is married to The Feeling's bassist Richard Jones, is dedicating her time to helping charities and families like Charlie's through her work with Disney and GOSH.

"I love being a mum, " she says.

"It's the start of the summer holidays and like many other families we are off to the beach for a week, away from all the craziness of our lives in London.

"It will be just the four of us and sometimes I think that's when everything makes the most sense.

"As you can see, GOSH is an amazing place and it desperately needs donations from the public.

"These little people are too young to understand what's happening to them so it's about giving them a quality of life and remembering they are still children."

Which is why Sophie is teaming up with new pre-school channel Disney Junior to launch an incredible bid to collect a million Disney memories in aid of GOSH.

Families across Britain are being asked to donate not money but memories to the campaign, which Disney will turn into ?million for the hospital when they hit the magic number of a million memories on their Facebook site.

During her visit to the hospital, Sophie tells families on Lion ward of her own first Disney memory: "I remember watching Mary Poppins over and over and over when I was five or six.

"Even now I could probably turn down the sound and recite all the songs."

And Boel Ferguson, from Disney Junior UK and Ireland, adds: "This campaign is all about encouraging families to share these fond memories with each other, as well as with us, to help GOSH."

Another Disney fan is five-year old Chian?Cloete from Southgate, north London.

She arrived at the hospital last month after being diagnosed with a very rare cancer of the brain.

Dad Chris says: "We're frightened but we have to believe that she will be OK.

"The doctors and nurses here are some of the best in the world so we know we are in the best place.

Chian?isn't frightened and has a play specialist to make sure she can still have fun."

Across the hall, New Yorker Tara Kar, mum to 19-month-old Luca, says she is thankful that her little boy is being treated here: "We've been so well looked after.

"Every penny here makes a huge difference. Miracles happen every day at GOSH."

Little Harash Bhadenegar, five, shows Sophie his painting in the playroom and then she goes to meet cheeky Vincent Oenning, age four.

His mum Sophie, from Upminster, Essex, says: "He was diagnosed three years ago but never feels scared coming back here. He sees it as a safe place full of fun."

Other children excited to meet Sophie are music fan Rose-Anne Ofori, eight, from Dagenham in east London and nine-year-old Ciaran Monohan from Longford in Ireland.

His mum Adel tells us: "GOSH goes above and beyond to make things as easy as they can for you.

"I can stay with him in his room and his brother Patrick can come and visit too.

"At first he couldn't even come out of his room but he's been really responsive to treatment.

"GOSH is a great place and anything that anyone can do to help it stay that way is appreciated."

The Disney Junior Million Memories campaign builds on Disney's long-standing relationship with Great Ormond Street Hospital Children's Charity, which is aiming to raise £10million. Share your first Disney memory at facebook.com/disneyjunioruk.

For more info on Great Ormond Street Hospital Children's Charity see gosh.org

Tuesday, July 19, 2011

Oh no!Yeah. Which is pretty crappy. So it hurts when I swallow and I'm a bit fevery and achey. But I'm on penicillin and I should be better soon.

This is not good news.No, it's a bit of a pain.

Tonsillitis tends to come when one's tired, right?Yeah, well it has been quite full-on and relentless over the last few weeks. Doing lots of really nice things, but a bit non-stop. I think maybe I overdid it a little. At the weekend I did Kings Lynn on the Friday, then supported Bryan Ferry at Kew on the Saturday and got straight in the car after that because I'd been booked to sing at someone's birthday. So I got home at like 4am on Sunday morning. That probably didn't do me any favours! But never mind.

It sounds like your body is perhaps trying to tell you something.That's what my mum said! But it can be hard to totally take time off when you have two children!

Do you have much coming up?Well, I go on holiday at the beginning of August, but the diary is still looking pretty busy. It'll be nice to have a little break, though.

And it sounds like you've been having fun.Yeah, I've been busy, but doing some lovely stuff. Richard and I did some DJing last week at the Chiswick House festival, which was fun. We got to watch Tinie Tempah and Noah & The Whale and bands like that.

Is that the event famed for its amazing food?Exactly. I didn't do too badly, but I think Richard had at least two lobsters!

You also sang with The Feeling last week at Kew.Yeah, that was really nice. I thought their gig was brilliant. And I really enjoyed my gig there on the Saturday night too. It's really beautiful, and we were lucky with the weather for both shows.

And the song you performed with The Feeling, Leave Me Out Of It, is their new single.That's right.

You've already done a couple of TV things with them for that. Will you be doing more?I think so, yes. I'll do whatever they need me to do. There's been talk of doing a video for it, too. We're going to Abbey Road this week actually, to film an acoustic performance of Leave Me Out Of It.

Is it strange working with your husband?Well, that's how we met, so it's not completely bizarre. But I suppose I find it hard to stay focused. I feel a bit mischievous - like it's work but not really work.

And it's a great song too.I think so. I really like it. It's all atmospheric and dramatic. And it tugs your heart strings a little bit.

And were you pleased with the response to Make A Scene?I was really happy. I think it was quite a big achievement to get an album on my own label into the Top 40. I think the people who worked on it were all great, I love my new PR team and my new TV people. It was all quite exciting - and more so because it was all our own venture. You can really see the fruits of your labour much more easily without the smoke and mirrors of a big label.

What else have you been up to?Well, I haven't been abroad for about six weeks now, which is quite unusual for me. There was lots of it in May, but since then I've mainly been here, doing things like the Erasure dates.

Ah yes, how was that tour?It was a really sweet thing to be part of - but it's a shame the weather wasn't better. The crowds were amazing, though. They were just so resilient and determined to have a good time, even when they're standing there in their ponchos in the pouring rain. The weather's actually been better for the ones I've done recently. Cornbury was really nice and Kings Lynn was great too. It does make a difference.

The fact that my mother [Blue Peter presenter Janet Ellis] was on television every week while I was young was occasionally awkward, and often frustrating. My school friends were quite wowed by it, and it had a pretty potent currency, I suppose, because they watched it, and her, every week. But certain people would accuse me of saying things, or acting in a particular way, simply because she was on TV. It made me feel quite impotent.

By the time I was a teenager, my mother was no longer on Blue Peter. Teenagers tend to live very much in the day, and so I was hardly ever reminded of it, fortunately. The subject only came up again when I started dating boys. They would tell me how they used to fancy my mum back then, or, worse, still fancy her today. It's not really something a daughter wants to hear about her mother.

My parents separated when I was four. It wasn't the smoothest of divorces, but then as my mother always says, you can't have a passionate marriage without a passionate divorce. But it's to their credit that it never affected me too badly, because whatever they were going through themselves, it didn't affect their parenting of me.I was an only child, but then my parents resettled with different partners, and I am now one of six. We are all very different, but I love having such a big family. We don't do too many collective gatherings – I'll very often celebrate Christmas twice, with both sets of families – but it is nice when a whole bunch of us gets together. Last Christmas, there were 18 of us round the table. And, no, it wasn't a disaster.

My mother had three children, but she wanted a fourth. It never happened, though: she had 10 miscarriages. She kept them from me at the time, because she thought I was too young. We sat down and talked about it much later, and I felt so very sorry for her. It was all so breathtakingly sad.

Towards the end of my first pregnancy with my son Sonny [now seven], I developed pre-eclampsia, that really glamorous condition where you get puffy ankles and a puffy face. It's not much fun. He was born two months prematurely, and was absolutely tiny. We spent a lot of time in hospital.

Sonny had meningitis at four months old. I remember that morning vividly. I woke up at 6am on a Saturday, aware that he was late for his feed. I went to him, and he was the hottest thing ever, his feet blocks of ice. I didn't have a clue what to do. We rushed him to the hospital, they pumped him full of Calpol, and then took him off for a lumbar puncture, which I wasn't allowed to attend. It was my very worst experience as a mother.

My second son, Kit [now two], was also very premature, so we had to get used to even more time in hospitals. It's very sobering.

Two premature babies was not a genetic thing; we were just unlucky. Hopefully we won't be next time, and we definitely want more children. How many? Well, if another pregnancy ends prematurely, then maybe we'll have to draw a line under it, but we always did like the idea, perhaps, of four. But don't get me started on that just now. Let me get through the next one first, and then we'll see.

Wednesday, July 13, 2011

Sophie Ellis-Bextor recently released her latest album 'Make A Scene'. It's one of our favourite albums of the year so we thought we'd give Sophie a ring and chat to her about her music, style and performing in shopping centres!

So the new album’s out now, what was the thinking before you made it? Did you have idea of what you wanted to achieve with it?Not really, I just knew about the people that I wanted to work with so I recorded ‘Heartbreak’ with the Freemasons and then I went into the studio with people like Calvin Harris and Joe from Metronomy.

It was quite a while in the making, was it a difficult album to make?No, it was quite fun actually. I didn’t really want to stop writing and working with people. It was very enjoyable actually. I like writing anyway and I had maybe 40 or 50 songs for the album, I had to make a decision to stop!

As you mentioned you worked with some really great people, how does that come about? Did you have a list of people that you’d like to collaborate with?Yeah, pretty much. It’s a bit of a mix really. I’ve worked with people in the past so I knew I wanted to work with them, and then I ask my friends if there’s anything that they’ve been listening to and is there anyone that they think I should know about? I keep my ear to the ground so it's a really mixed bag.

Do you think that four albums in now that there’s a distinctive Sophie Ellis-Bextor sound?I think I’ve got a distinctive voice. Nobody has ever said anything about my sound but I like to think my voice is one of my strongest assets.

The one thing that I noticed listening to the new album especially is that you have incredibly clear diction, is that something that you practise?One thing is that when I listen to it I just try to have a look, I think it’s imperative actually because I’ve found thatI like to tell a story so it is important that people can understand me.

Just the way it pierces through above everything else, you hear it above all the other things, it’s a nice quality.Aw, thank you. I don’t really think too much about it anymore.

And talking about your style, have you ever considered trying different styles or different genres at all?Yeah absolutely, and in fact I’ve got to do something a bit different, just because I’ve felt like recently it’s been a lot of disco and pop and I completely adore that, definitely, and its my natural habitat, but I'm thinking of making more stripped back stuff in the future. I’m always going to make dance music though, because it’s what I love.

You've mentioned the band Phoenix as an influence, which other current artists and bands do you listen to for inspiration?Yeah, I really liked Wolfgang Amadeus Phoenix. I’ve really gone a bit backwards with music actually, a lot of Fleetwood Mac and Dolly Parton, I really love old school disco too.

Is there a track on the album that you’re particularly proud of? One that you see as being your favourite track ?I do really love Starlight, because I just think it’s really gritty and it has a flawless production.

Are you still DJing a lot with your husband (Richard from The Feeling)?Yeah, well its not for our day jobs, but we love to do that together. Last week we went to Milan, which was fun.

Do you ever play your own songs when you’re DJing?I think not, I think that’s quite embarrassing. Generally we get up and put some of our own stuff in there but I always make Richard press play and I just hide under the table when it comes on, I just find it a bit cringey. One day I got asked to play Groovejet and I didn’t have it anywhere.

So what are your guaranteed life-saving floor filler tracks for you when you’re DJing?Just like classic party tunes that if you’re trying to warm a crowd up but you’re not going to get anything out of them. Some old Michael Jackson, Dizzee Rascal, or play some classic Madonna……something that keeps them on their toes.

Looking back on your career are there any strange gigs that stand out to you?There are hundreds!

Such as?I recently performed at Westfield Shopping Centre in London.

Did you take in some window shopping from the stage?Yeah, pretty much. Performing was the only thing keeping me from temptation and Topshop. That was a bit unusual but I don’t mind, I am an entertainer after all so if you want me to do that, I shall do that.

Very professional...The thing is to jump about, have a little dance.

Talking about fashion and shopping, have you ever thought, or even been approached to do your own clothing line?It hasn’t happened yet, but sure I would love to. I’ve got tons and tons of dresses that I could use for inspiration that could make it happen. So yeah, I’d love to, it would be lots of fun.

Do you fell more relaxed in what you’re doing now, like there’s less pressure, and everyone’s just accepted that ‘I enjoy what I do now so it doesn’t matter what happens?Yeah 100% actually, it’s more relaxed now and because I don’t think you should ever get to a point where you feel that you’ve got to chart at a certain position. You either like it or you don’t and people just let me do what I do now.By the time I got to the third album really, and people were going “Okay, we know roughly who you are and what you’re about.

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ABOUT | CONTACT ME

Welcome! SOPHIERAZZI is a website dedicated Sophie Ellis-Bextor. Here, you will find first hand information, access to several rarities and exclusive inside details unavailable elsewhere. This is your heaven... Feel free EMAIL ME, if you have some exciting news to share, if you want to update me about something, or if you need some clarification regarding any post. I promise to respond to your email at the earliest...Cheers, Kaushik. (sophierazzi@yahoo.com)

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fun time had on the rides. family jones especially loved Dragon's Fury and the Vampire.

The sun's out so let's go to chessington world of adventures! I always love a theme park.

is it wrong of me to say i love my album? because i do. big shout out to all the producers involved. your work sounds lush.
@arminvanbuuren just been listening to Not Giving Up On Love really loud and it sounds amazing. i love it! very excited.

a lovely day today. fun at carters steam fair. i love fairground rides. now i must must must do album running order.....

Pret a manger: you make great sandwiches and salads but i'm sorry your sushi is dreadful. Rock hard rice.

If anyone is still concerned, my computer is back to normal now. Thank you.

oh great.. baby hitting keyboard has resulted in entire screen being in negative. not sure how to fix. ideas?! seems i can't save my computer. oh well. the video for Bittersweet actually looks pretty good in negative... very dramatic!

on the other hand, chocolate for breakfast is really rather good.

can everybody please stop giving me chocolate!

Off to paris for junior caldera and bittersweet chit chat. Heavy boots leaving the family on a sunday evening.

off to the south coast for radio tour tomorrow. see you in the morning, brighton. n'night all. x

i am all sparkly today after a circus themed photo shoot yesterday

A successful week but want to get home asap to mini jones boys! Wish me luck

@PerezHilton and a happy birthday from me too, perez! thanks fro posting the video. see you soon i hope

Just back from meribel little world festival and now on radio tour. No bones broken on slopes. Woo! Well not my bones anyway...

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About Me

I would love to ramble on forever, but i don't wanna bore the readers. So.. i'm Kaushik, 20 (as of 2008). I live in India. I'm a pursuing Chartered Accountancy. I love music, i love reading books, i'm a big foodie and i love to travel.